Sharpening device for safety razor blades and the like



Oct. 27, 1931. J. B. RHODES 1,329,016

$HARPBNING DEVICE FOR SAFETY RAZOR BLADES AND THE LIKE Fildd March 24,1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR day 5 Rhodes Oct. 27, 1931.

' J. B. RHODES 1,829,016

o n sA'Fm'Y RAzoiz BLADES mm was LIKE SHARPBNING DEVICE F 3 Sheets-Sheet2 mid March 24,. 1930 Oct. 27,1931. J. a. RHODES 1,329,016

SHARPENING DEVICE FOR SA FETY' BLADES AND THE LIKE Filed March 24. 19503 Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR clay 5. Eh oded Patented Oct. 27, 1931 I JAYB. nnonns, or KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN P NT OFFICE I V sma'rmrme DEVICE FORSAFETY mzon amines nun-Tn]: LIKE,

, Application filed March 24, 1930. Serial No; 488,299. I M

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide a sharpeningdevice for safety razor'blades and the like which may 7 be easilymanipulated even by an unskilled person and is very eflicient, enablingthe effective and uniform sharpening of the blade. V

Second,-to provide a sharpening device of this character in which theblade during the "i0 sharpening stroke is theonly element in slidingengagement with the sharpenin device.

- Third, to provide a sharpening evice of this character in which whilethe blade is in supporting engagement with the sharpening 1 elementduring the sharpening stroke,-is supported so that'thin resilient bladescannot 'ismaintained." I I Fourth, to. provide; a sharpening devicewhich is adapted foruse with either flexible sharpening elementssuch asstrops or nonflexible sharpening elements.

Fifth, to providea sharpening device having these advantages which maybe easily manipulated in inserting or removing the blade. i a

Sixth, to provide a sharpening device having the above advantages.which. is very simple and economical in structure, at the sametime theparts are strong and durable.

- I Objects relating to details andeconomies of my invention willappearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined andpointed out in the claims.

735 A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sharpening device embodying my improvementsshown in operative relation to a strop and with the parts in positionoccupied on a sharpening stroke to, the right.

Fig. 2 is a central transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the stropbeing shown in full lines.

Fig. 3 is a view with the handle partially broken away showing themounting of the bla de carrier and its'holder' in an embodiment designedfor a double-edged blade.

the position ofthe carrier during. the blade reversing operation.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailsection illustrating theposition of theroller relative to the blade and blade carrier when on a strop- ,pingstroke toward the right ortoward the direction of the arrow. bedistorted and the proper bevel of the blade Fig. 9-.is a fragmentaryview, the supporta ing spindle being sectioned, further illustrating athe reversing movement, the position shown at the left being theposition of the parts when on a right-hand stropping stroke and at theright being the position on thyleft-hand stroke or movement of thedevice.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a modified form or embodiment of my inventionadapted for a single edge blade.

Fig. 11 is a view of the opposite side from no' that shown in Fig. 10,the handle being broken away. q

Fig. 12 is, a detail section on a line corresponding to line l2.12-ofFigs. 10 and 11 showing details of the blade holder.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary View showing portions of the bladecarrier andone of the blade holder members, the other being omitted.

Fig. l lis a sectional View through the blade holder on line14.-14of'Figs. 10 and 12.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 represents a razor strop but it will beunderstood that the sharpening element may be of any suitable character;that is, either flexible or non-flexible. However, the sharpening ele-iment is preferably a flexible element.

I provide asupporting-spindle 2 havin a handle 3 disposed axially of thespindle. %)n the spindle 2 I mount aroller 4 for free rotative movement.The roller 4 is provided'Tloo with radially projecting ears 5, the earshaving outwardly projecting headed pins or pivots 6 and 7 thereon. Thesepivots, it will be noted, are substantially spaced from the axial centerof the spindle. These pivots engage the arms of the U-shaped carrier 8which is formed of resilient material.

The arm 9 of the carrier is provided with a hearing or journal opening10 while the arm 11 of the carrier has a hearing or journal opening 12with slots 1-3 extending oppositely therefrom and opening thereto. V

The blade holder comprises members 14 and 15 formed of resilientmaterial, these members being longitudinally bowed toward each other asshown in"Fig'.-5. These members are preferably formed as stampings, themember 15 having journal members 16 and 17 at its ends rotatable in thebearings 10 and 12 of the carrier.

The journal member 16 terminates in a down-turned lug 17 coactingwiththe outer side of the arm 11 and with a thrust lug 18 coacting with theinner side of the arm 9.

The holder member 14 is provided with a journal member 19 coacting withthe hearing 10 of the arm 11 and with a thrust lug 2O engaging the innerside of this arm. At its other end the member 1 1 has a journal portion21 coacting with the bearing opening 12 of the arm 9. r

The member 14: is also provided with a finger piece 22 and with a detent23 adapted to engage the inner side of the arm 9 when the blade holdersare intheir blade clamping position. In this position, the ends of theblade holders adjacent the-finger piece engage within the slotspreventing rotative movement of the holder within the carrier.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1m 9 inclusive is designed forholding a doubleedged blade 24,having spaced holes 25 there- The holdermember 15 is provided with lugs 26 adapted to engage with theseholeswhile the member 14 has a longitudinal slot 27 into which the lugs mayproject.

To introduce the blade, the finger piece of the member llis grasped andpressed downwardly to disengage the detent 23 when the member may bewithdrawn to permit the blade being laid upon the member 15 with theholes of the blade engaging the-lugs 26. The member 23 is then pushedinwardly and its journal 19 engaged in the bearing opening 10 of thecarrier arm 9, the blade being clamped between the holder members, asshown in Fig. 13, the. ends, however, of the holder members flaring, asshown in Fig. 4, to yieldingly support the roller 4 when in stroppingposition as'shown, for example, in 'Fig. 9, the slots 13 being of suchsize as to receive the ends of the'holder'in this flared relation, atthe same time-holding them' unbeing moved along with the blade as thestrop der sufiicient tension to effectively clamp the blade and retainthe member 14.

The holder members are preferably cut away intermediate their endsproviding shoulders 47 lying at the inner sides of the arms of thecarrier when in blade clamping position. I

When it is desired to reverse the blade, the finger piece is grasped andlongitudinal pressure exerted thereon which, owing to the engagementofthethrustlugs 20 with the arm 11, springs that arm outwardly on itspin 6, releasing'the ends of'the holders from the slots 13 so that theholder may be rotated on its journals to turn it half over. Uponreleasing the longitudinal pressure,the spring of the carried will reengage the ends of the holders with the slots 13 thereby securing the"holder againstrotative. movement.

It; will be noted that the spindle is;provided with an enlargementorcylindrical head 50 at its outer end and that the inner end of the arm 9of the carrier is notched at 51 providing a pair of spaced stops 52which are adapted when the arm 9 .of-the carrier is sprung to theposition shown in Fig. 6 to coact with the head 50, limiting the swingof the carrier and preventing rotative movement of the roller during theblade reversing operation. This serves the double purpose of preventingthe edge of the blade coming in contact with the roller and also holdsthe carrier in relatively fixed relation for conveniencein'manipulation; that is, permits the rever'sing'of the blade holder forthe operator graspingthe finger piece 22. This reversing manipulation isillustrated in Fig. 6. The holder is partially turned from its stroppingposition. WVith the blade clamped within the holder, the device isplaced upon the strepwithout regard to the position of the carrier.Assuming that the operator makes the first stroke toward the right ofFig. 2, and the carrierfalls in front of the roller,the first actionasthe movement begins is for the roller to* swing up out of contact withthe strop, as shown in Fig. 2, resting upon the blade adjacent its edgeand on the lugs or shoulders 27 of the upper holder member, the devicecontacting element. The pressure on the spindle through the handle willcause the holder members to yield, holding the blade downwardly inengagement with the strop under spring tension and under the thrust orpressure of the roller, as shown in Fig. 7. However, on the initialreversing movement, the roller swings away from the blade, re-

leasing the spring holders so that the blade is lifted by the holdersfrom engagement with the strop, asis ind-ioatedin Fig. 8. The roller isbrought into engagement with the strop, thereby rotatingthe roller andswinging the carrier over'the roller to the reverse kposition,this-movement being illustrated by dotted linesin i In Fig. 9 I show theparts in the position they would occupy'at the end of a stroke, themovement of the roller on reversal being indicatedby dotted lines.

upon the carrier and blade.

This effectively holds the blade in engagement with the sharpeningelement, preventing undue'flexing or bendingv of the bladeand-alsoappliesthe spring pressure described so that as soon asreversing movement begins,

the spring holder members lift the edge of the blade from the sharpeningelement, preventing cutting thereof. i

The user is not required to pay any attention to the position in whichthe carrier is applied to or falls upon the strop, merely manipulatingthe device much the same as an ordinary razor is manipulated instropping except of course no reversing movement is required on thepartof the operator, this being automatic. i V a The blade, during thestropping movement, is pushed forwardly on the stropso that it isimpossible to cut the same during the stroke and the blade is supportedso that it may be firmly pressed tothe sharpening-element;

" In the modification shown in Figs. '10 ,to

14 inclusive, I show my improvements adapted for a single-edge blade 30;In this case, the'blade is provided with a longitudinal shoulder 31, theholder members 32and 33 clamping the blade in front of this shoulder.The members 32 "and 33 are referably inwardly bowed as described, t emember 32 having lugs 34 adjacent its ends engaging Within the arms 35of the'bail-shaped holder 1 36, these arms being. pivotedto the pivots37 onthe roller 38.

The holder member 33 is longitudinally movable in the slots 39 of thecarrier arms, a detent 40 being provided to retain the member 33 in itsengaged position, a stop 41 limiting the engagement movement of thisholder member. Aside from the holder features, the structure is the sameas that previously described. I r 1 My improved sharpening'deviceis veryeificient, may be successfully used by inexperienced operatorswithout'cutting or mutilating the sharpening element,-the parts aresimple and economical to produce-and very easily assembled. The bladesmay be quickly inserted or removed and the double edge blade may bequickly reversed'as described without removing from the holder.

' I have illustrated myimprovements in two commercial embodimentsthereof which have proven highly satisfactory. I have not attempted toillustrate or describeother embodiments or adaptations as I believe thisdisclosure will enable those skilled in the. art to embody desiredt a 1Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure byLetters Patent, is: I

1. In a sharpeningdevice, the combination with a spindle provided with ahandle disposed axially of the spindle, of a roller rotatable on thespindle andprovided with. radial pivot lugs at its ends, a U-shapedblade carrier having its arms pivotally mounted on the outer sides ofsaid lugs'so that the roller may swing between the arms of the carrier,v and a blade holder comprising a pair of inwardly bowed resilientmembers mounted on the arms of said carrier, the ends of said bladeholders when clampedupon a blade constituting springs and being providedwith roller supporting shoulders disposed so that upon a :work strokethe roller rests upon the blade and said holder. r

I 2, In a sharpening device, the combination with a spindle providedwith a handledis-,

posed axially of the spindle, of a roller rotatable on the spindle andprovided with radial pivot lugs at its ends, a u-shaped blade carrierhaving its arms pivotally mounted on the inner sides of said lugs sothat the roller K may swing betweenthe arms ofthe carrier,

and a blade holder comprising a resilient member moiinted on the arms os'aid'carrier anddisposed so that upon a work stroke the roller engagesthe upper side of the blade and saidholder;

' 3. In a sharpening device, the combination with a spindle providedwitha handle disposed axially of the spindle, of a roller rotatable onthespindle and provided with'radial pivot lugs at'its ends, a U-shapedblade or adapt the same as maybe carrier having its arms pivotallymounted on the outer sides of said lugs so that the roller may swingbetween the arms of the carrier, and a blade holder mounted on the armsof said carrier and disposed so that'upon a work stroke'the roller restsupon the, blade andsaid holder.

4. In a sharpening device, the combination of a handle, arollerrotatablymounted on said handle, a blade carrierpivotally mounted onsaid-roller in radiallyspac'ed relation to its axis, said carrierbeing'providedlwith a blade holder adapted to support a blade so upperside of the blade adjacent its edge, and the roller contacts with thesharpening "element on the reversing of the stroke to swing the carrierto the opposite side of the roller,

that on a Work stroke the roller engages the and spring means acting tolift the edge of the blade from the sharpening element when the pressureof the roller thereon is relieved as by reversal of stroke.

5. In a sharpeningdevice,;thecombination ofa handle, a roller rotatablymounted on said handle, and a blade carrier pivotally:

mounted-Ion said roller inradially spacedrelation to its axis, saidcarrier being provided with a blade holder adapted to support a blade'sothaton a work-stroke theroller engagesthe upper side of the bladeadjacent its edge, and the roller contacts with the sharpening elementon the reversing of the stroke to swingthe carrier to the opposite sideof. the roller. 7 r

6. In a sharpening device, the combination with'a handle, of a rollerrotatably mounted on said handle, a carrier pivotally connected to saidroller at points radially spaced from its axis, and i a blade holdercomprising a resilient blade supporting member mounted on said carrierand positioned relative to the roller so that on a work strokeltherollerrests to said roller at points'radially spaced from .its axis, anda bladeholderon said carrier adapted to yieldably support the blade andso thatjon a-work stroke the rollerengages the blade holder and theupperside of the blade adjacent its edge. I

8. In a sharpening "device, the combinationwith aspindle provided with:a handle, of-a roller freely rotatable onsaid spindle, a carrierpivotally connected to said roller at .points radially spaced from itsaxis, anda blade holder rotatably mounted'on said carvrier and adaptedto support a bladeso that side of the blade adjacent its edge.

. 9. In arsharpening device,thecombination on awork stroke the .rollerengages the upper with a spindle provided with'ahandle, of a rollerfreely rotatable on said spindle. acarrier pivotally connected to saidroller at points .radiallyspaced from its axis. anda blade holder-mounted on said 'carrieifiand ,adaptedto support a blade so thaton awork stroke the roller engages the upper side of the blade. r

-10. In a sharpeningdevice, the combinat1on ,with a handle, of a rollerrotatably mounted on. said handle, and a blade; carrier .pivotallyconnected tosaid roller-and .pro-

vided with a blade holder adapted to support .a blade so that on a Workstroke in either direction, the edge of the bladelies between the:s'harpening element and the roller and in supporting engagement 'Wltl],the roller.

11. Ina sharpening device, the combina- "tion with a handle, of a rollerrotatably mounted onsaid handle, a carrierpivotally connected to saidroller at points radially spaced from. its axis, anda blade holder onsaid carrier supportinga blade so-that ona work. stroke, the rollerengages the upper side .of the blade adjacentits edge.

I QIn sharpening device, the combinameme .from, and a pair of bowedresilient blade holder members having journal portions at theirendsrotatablein said bearing openings of-said arms, one of said holdermembers being provided with a 111 engaging the inner side of the lug ofsaid s otted arm and alug engagingthe outer side oftheother carrier arm,the other holder member being slidable in said bearing openings of saidarms and provided with a fingerpiece at one end and a 'detent at itsfinger piece end detachably engageable with the inner side of theslotted .arm; and witha thrust lug engaging the inner side of the otherarm, the ends of said holder.membersengaging said slots when alignedtherewith thereby supporting the holder, said holder members beingdisengaged from said slot to permit rotation of the holderbyspringingthe opposite armas by means of a longitudinal thrust on the holdermember having the finger piece.

13. In a sharpening device the combination :witha spindle provided Witha handle disposed-axially of the spindle, of a roller freely. rotatableon. said spindle and provided with I radial peripherally gprojectl'nglugs, said lugs having outwardly projecting pivots'disposedlongitudinally of the roller, a resilient U-shaped blade *carrier havingits armsmountedion said pivots, one of the arms engaging its pivot forsliding movement on the pivot, said arm having a bearing'openingtherein, the other arm having an aligned bearing opening with'aslotextending therefrom, and a pair of bowed resilient blade holder membershaving journal portionsat their ends rotatable in said bearing openingsof said arms, one of-said holde-rmembers being slidable in saidbearingopcnings of said arms and provided witha-finger piece,the

ends of said holder members engaging said slots when aligned therewiththereby supporting the holder, said lioldei-ineinbers being disengagedfrom the slot to permitrotation oftheholder springing the opposite armas by means of a longitudinal thrust on the holder member havmg thefinger piece; j r j 14. In .Qa.sharpeningdevice, the combinat1on with aspindle provided witha handle, of a roller rotatableon said spindle, aresil- 'ient U-shaped blade c'arrieiihaving its arms pivotally mountedon. saidroller inradially portions at their ends rotatable in saidbear-' ing openings of said arms, one of said holder members beingprovided with a lug engaging the inner side of the lug of said slottedarm and a lug engaging the outer side of the other carrier arm, theother holder member being slidable in said bearing openings of said armsand provided with a finger piece at one end and a detent at its fingerpiece end detachably engageable with the inner side of the slotted armand with a. thrust lug engaging the inner side of the other arm, theends of said holdermembers engaging said slot when aligned therewiththereby supporting the holder against rotation, said holder membersbeing disengaged from said slot tovpermit rotation of the holder byspringing the opposite arm as by means of a longitudinal thruston theholder member having the'finger piece.

15. In asharpening device, the combination with aspindle provided with ahandle, of a roller rotatableon said spindle, a resilient U-shaped bladecarrier having its arms pivotally mounted on said roller in'radiallyspaced relation to the axis of the spindle, one of the arms engaging itspivotfor sliding movement thereon, said arm having a bearing openingtherein, the other arm having a bearing opening and a slot, and coactingblade holder members having journal portions at their ends rotatableinsaid bearing openings of said arms, the other holder member beingslidable in said bearingopenings of said arms and provided with a fingerpiece at one end, the ends of said holder members engaging said slotwhen aligned therewith thereby supporting the holder against rotation,said holder members being disengaged from said slot to permitrotation ofthe holder by springing the opposite arm as by means of a longitudinalthrust on the holder mem ber having the finger piece.

16. In a sharpening device, the combination with a spindle provided witha handle, of a roller rotatable on said spindle, a resilient U-shapedblade carrier having its arms pivotally mounted on said roller inradially spaced relation to the axis of the roller to permit springingthe arms, and a blade holder rotatably mounted on said arms anddetachably engageable'with one of the arms for holding against rotation,said holder being relation to the axis of the roller to permit springingthe arms, and a blade holder rotatably mounted on said arms and providedwith arm engaging parts releasable by spring: ing of thecarrier arm.

18. In a'blade sharpening device, the combination with a spindleprovided with a handle, said spindle having a cylindrical enlargement atits outer end, of a roller rotatable on said spindle, a resilientU-shaped blade carrier having its arms pivotally mounted in said rollerin radially spaced relation to the axis of the roller to permitspringing of the outer arm, the outer arm to coact with saidenlargementwhen sprung outwardly, and a blade holder reversably mountedon said arms and provided with arm engaging parts releasable by thespringing of said outer arm.

19. In a sharpening device, the combination with a spindle provided witha handle, of a roller rotatably mounted on said spindle, a resilientU-shaped. blade carrier having its arms pivotally mounted on said rollerin radially spaced relation to the axis of the roller and to permitspringing of one of the arms, said carrier and spindle being providedwith coacting stops which are brought into coacting relation by thespringing of the carrier arm, and a blade holder reversably mounted onsaid arms and provided with parts releasably engageable with one of saidarms.

20. In a sharpening device, the combination with a spindle provided witha handle, of a roller rotatably mounted on said spindle, a blade carrierpivotally mounted on said roller in radially spaced relation to the axisof the roller, ablade holder reversably mounted on said carrier, andcoacting stop means on said carrier and spindle acting to support thecarrier and roller in relatively fixed relation to said spindle duringthe reversing of the holder.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAY B. RHODES.

released from saidarm' by the springing of 7 said arms.

17. In a sharpening device, the combina tion with a spindle providedwith a handle,

of a roller rotatable on said spindle, a resilient I U-shaped bladecarrier having its arms pivot-

